Locomotive stoker



head, a

Patented Mar. 5, 1935 John W. Myers, Roanoke, -Ya.', assignor to Ihe" I Standard Stoker Company, Incorporated, a' corporation of Delaware Application. February 5, 1932,serial rhloi591,126

Renewed J anuar'y' 14}- 1935 5 Claims. (01. 198-45) 'Ihis invention relates to-stokers for locomotives and more particularly to stokers of the type in which fuel is delivered from the tender to the firing opening in the locomotive boiler back- It is the main objectof the invention to provide a novel stoker fuel conveying system which will conduct the fuel from a source of supply, as from a tender; to the firing opening in-the backhead of a locomotive in themost direct course consistent with permissible obstruction-of space rearwardof the backhead, and with a minimum of crushing or breaking down of the-fuel;

It is a further object of the invention-to provide a novel stoker; fuel conveying system peculiarly adaptable to locomotives ofthe deckless type, which comprises afuel transfer conduit mounted on the tender, including a horizontal rearward sectionand an upwardly inclined forward section, the junction between the sections being located rearward of the front wall of the horizontal conduit section 22 and the inclined tender, and a riser conduit flexibly, connected at its lower end with the forward end 'of ,the transfer conduit and extending upwardly: "and forwardly through the apron between the locomotive and tender to the firing opening.

A further object of'the invention resides in the provision of anovel stoker trough having an open mouth portion-comprising asubstantially horizontal rearward section and'an upwardly inclined forward section, the junction 'of the two sections being located within the open mouth portion of the trough;

The invention accordingly, comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and'illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical central section through a portion of a locomotive 'andjits tender with a stoker partly in similar section and partlyv in side elevation'applied thereto; and Fig. 2 isa sectional view onthe line 22 of Fig. 1. r r a In the drawing, the locomotive is designated generally 'by the numeral and comprises the firebox 11 having grates 12, and a backv'rall 13 with a firing opening 14 therethrough. The tender is represented by the numeral 15having a fuel bin 16 with a coal gate 17, a floor or deck 18 having a longitudinal centrally located aperture 19' normally closed by a pluralityof 'slidable plates 20' which are arranged to-be withdrawn fromtcovering position to regulate the delivery of fuel from the fuel bin 16. V

that'of. the inclined portion 23.

Movably mounted on tender below the V fuel bin-16 is' a transferconduit designated'as a ,whole' by the numeral 21 and which comprises the horizontal rearward conduit section :or trough section 22 and the upwardly inclined forward conduit section'23. 'Tneupwardlyinclined forwardiconduit' section 23 includes arearward open mouth portion-24 and a tubular forward portion 25. The junction-ofthe horizontalconduit section 22 and the inclined conduit-section '23 is located rearward-of the front wall 26 of the tender and is preferably enlarged, as at 2'7. ,Viewed from another aspect the transfer contion forming a continuation of the inclined portion 23 andhaving its axis in coincidence with Conveyorscrews 28 ,and29 are mounted in the conduit section 23 respectively, and are universally'connected by a joint-60 at the junction of -'in' the art as not to require particular description. A crusher '31, arching over the conveyor screw 29, is-provided in the open mouth portion 24 of the inclined conduit section23 and cooperates with the screw, 29 to reduce the large lumps of fuel to a suitable size for'firing.

Extending rearwardly from the backwall 13 ofithexlocomotive is a support member 32, to 'which ishinged one end of the apron 33. The

other end of the apron 33' rests on the tender deck '18, over whichit is free to slide as relative movement between the tender and locomotive viding for universal and longitudinal movement between transfer conduit 21 andtheriser coni duit 34. Toprovide forJvertical, displacement of' the locomotive with respect to the tender and to further provide for relative movement between the locomotive and tender in going around curves, the conduit 21 is mounted to rotate or pivot about a substantially vertical axis as well as to rock about a substantially horizontal transbracket 42 and conduit may rock about'a transversely extending horizontal axis.

Interposed between the horizontal portions 46 of the angle members 44and the channel shaped members 45 is a transversely extending bar 47 which underlies and is adjacent to the member 43 of the bracket. The bar 47 and member 43 are provided with registering apertures for receiving 7 a vertical pin 48 which, although it enables rotation or pivoting of the conduit 21 about a vertical axis, prevents longitudinal movement thereof. The outer ends of the member 43 are also'curved so that when the bracket 42 and conduit 21 rotate about the pivot pin 48 sufiicient clearance will be provided between them and the angle members 44.

Since the conduit 21 is movably mounted on the tender and therefore assumes various relative positions with respect to the opening 19, through which fuel is permitted to fall into the conduit 21,

means is provided for preventing the escape of fuel between the sides of the conduit and the fioor of the fuel bin. This means comprises a' ring member 49 surrounding the opening 19 and is movably supported on the underside of the fioor by brackets 50. The ring member 49 is angularly shaped in cross section, being provided with a vertical flange 51 extending downwardly within the conduit and a substantially horizontal flange 52 interposed between the supporting brackets 50 and the floor of the tender. The brackets 50 are so formed that sufiicient space is provided to permit the ring member 49 and conduit 21 to move with respect thereto as relative movement between the tender and conduit 21 occurs.

A fuel distributor plate 53, of any suitable design, extends forwardly from the upper marginal edge of the bottom wall of the riser conduit 34 through the firing opening 14 into the firebox 11. Located at the rear'of the distributor plate 53 is a pressure fluid distributor head 54 provided in its front face with a series of jet openings 55 through which pressure fluid, as steam, is ejected for impelling fuel over the distributor plate. Pressure fluid is admitted to the distributor head 54 through any suitable number of supply pipes 56. r

While the invention has been described as applied to a locomotive of the deckless type it will be apparent that it may be used to advantage in stoker installations on other types of locomotives.

I claim:

1. In a locomotive provided with a firebox having a firing opening and a tender having a fuel bin, a fuel conduit system comprising a fuel transfer conduit mounted beneath the fuel bin including a horizontal open mouth rearward section and an upwardly inclined forward section, said last The lower portion of the bracket 42 named section having a rearward open mouth portion and a tubular forward portion, the junctionbetween said rearward and forward sections being located within the open mouth portion of said transfer conduit, a screw in said rearward section and a screw in said inclined forward section, the adjacent ends of said screws being flexibly connected within said open mouth portion and in the vicinity of the juncture between said sections, a crusher arching over the screw in said inclined forward section, said crusher being disposed within said open mouth portion and forward' of the flexible connection between said screws, anda riser conduit flexibly connected at its lower end with the forward end of said transfer conduit and extending upwardly and forwardly therefrom to the lower portion of said firing opening.

2. In combination with a deckless locomotive provided with a firebox having a firing opening, a tender, and a movable apron between the locomotive and tender forming a movable deck for said locomotive, a fuel transfer conduit fixedly mounted on the tender with respect to longitudinal movement thereof and pivotally mounted on the tender about transverse and vertical axes, said transfer conduit including a horizontal rearward section and an upwardly inclined forward section, the junction between said sections being disposed rearward of the front wall of the tender, a screw in rearward section and a screw in saidinclined section, the adjacent ends of said screws being flexibly connected within said open mouth portion and in the vicinity of the juncture between said sections, and a riser conduit fixed on the locomotive flexibly and telescopically connected at its lower end with the forward end of said transfer conduit and extending upwardly and forwardly through said movable apronto the firing opening. 1

3. In combination with a deckless locomotiv provided with a firebox having a firing opening,

a tender and a movable apron between the locomotive and tender forming a movable deck for said locomotive, a stoker comprising a fuel transfer conduit fixedly mounted on the tender with reference to longitudinal movement thereof and pivotally mounted intermediate its ends to swing about horizontal and transverse axes, said transfer conduit including a horizontal rearward sec tion and an upwardly inclined forward section, the junction between said sections being disposed rearward of the front wall of the tender, a conveyor screw in each of said conduit sectionsfor advancing fuel therethrough, said conveyor screws being universally connected within the open mouth portion of said transfer conduit and in the vicinity of the juncture between said sections, and a riser conduit flexibly connected at its lower end with the forward end of said transfer conduit and extending upwardly and forwardly through said movable apron to the firing opening.

4. In combination with a deckless locomotive provided with a firebox having a firing opening, a tender and a movable apron between the locomotiveand tender forming a movable deck for said locomotive, a fuel transfer conduit fixedly mounted on the tender with respect to longitudinal movement thereof and pivotally mounted on the tender to swing about transverse and vertical axes, and a riser conduit flexibly connected at its lower end with the forward end of said transfer conduit and extending upwardly and forwardly through said movable apron to the firing opening.

5. In combination with a deckless locomotive provided with a firebox having a firing opening, a tender and a movable apron between the locomotive and tender forming a movable deck for said locomotive, a fuel transfer conduit fixedly mounted on the tender with respect to longitudinal movement thereof and pivotally mounted on the tender to swing about transverse and vertical axes, and a riser conduit fixed on the locomotive flexibly and telescopically connected at its lower end with the forward end of said transfer conduit and extending upwardly and forwardly through said movable apron to the firing opening.

JOHN W. MYERS. 

